President Buhari departs Abuja for China

President Muhammadu Buhari has departed Abuja for China on an official visit on April 10, Sunday. Buhari is set to spend four days on a state visit to the Peoples’ Republic of China from April 11 to 15 to strengthen diplomatic relations between China and Nigeria.

Nigeria’s president, speaking to Xinhua, Chinese news agency, prior to his trip, said the country cannot afford to lose the enormous potential in China-Nigeria economic and trade cooperation.

On trade and economic ties, Buhari added that his government remains committed to contracts signed by Goodluck Jonathan, his predecessor, with Chinese firms on railway, roads and hydroelectric dam projects.

He said: “China has the technical and financial capacity and the experience of development while retaining the goodwill to help Nigeria. So, really, this is an opportunity Nigeria cannot afford to lose. “In spite of being the largest economy in Africa, Nigeria is still badly in need of these projects, which China, as the world’s second-largest economy, has the capacity to undertake.”

The Nigerian leader would be the first African head of state to visit China after the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Johannesburg Summit, which is of great importance to both China-Nigeria and China-Africa relations, and draws great attention from both countries and Africa.